TLDR Sri Lanka’s Deputy Tourism Minister announced plans to make Colombo a gaming technology hub at the Global Game Connect 2026 summit The $1.2 billion City of Dreams Sri Lanka resort opened in Colombo in 2025, targeting wealthy South Asian travelers The government aims to attract 3 million international visitors in 2026, with gaming as a key draw Projected annual revenue from the gaming industry is expected to reach $250 million The tax rate on the gaming industry has been raised to 18% to boost the national treasury
Sri Lanka is making a big push to grow its gaming industry as a way to bring in more tourists and investment. The country’s Deputy Tourism Minister, Ruwan Ranasinghe, laid out the government’s plans at the Global Game Connect 2026 summit in Colombo.
Ranasinghe said the government wants to turn Colombo into a hub for gaming technology and investment. He pointed to partnerships with Chinese companies and countries as part of the plan.
The minister said the government is working to get the right regulations and technology in place. The goal is to make the gaming industry a serious part of Sri Lanka’s tourism strategy, not just a side attraction.
For years, the gaming industry in the country was limited to small gaming clubs spread across the island. That has started to change in a big way.
The gaming and integrated resort sector has grown into a fast-expanding part of the tourism industry. Officials now see it as a path to bring in high-value visitors and drive investment into Colombo.
City of Dreams Raises Sri Lanka’s Profile
A major milestone came in 2025 when the $1.2 billion City of Dreams Sri Lanka opened in Colombo. The integrated resort raised the island’s profile as a gaming destination for wealthy South